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Boeing has selected Evergreen International
Airlines to operate the 747 Large Cargo Freighter (LCF) fleet, comprising
specially modified 747-400 jets that will transport major assemblies for the all-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Evergreen International
Airlines (EIA) is a subsidiary of Evergreen International Aviatio and has performed passenger and cargo services around the globe for
more than 30 years. EIA has overall responsibility for the operation of the LCF fleet. It will fly routes to and from the U.S. and Japan.
Evergreen has named Cargolux as a subcontractor to fly routes from Europe. Cargolux currently operates a fleet of 14 747-400 freighters. Sojitz Corp. of America has
been chosen by Evergreen to coordinate logistics and other services for Japanese routes. Sojitz will establish an overall plan for receiving and transporting 787
components from Boeing’s Japanese partners, and will be the interface between Centrair and Nagoya airports.
“Evergreen International Airlines is an expert in its field, with nearly a half million hours of 747 experience,” said 787 Vice President of Airplane Production Scott Strode.
“We have complete confidence that EIA – in partnership with Cargolux and Sojitz – will meet the aggressive schedule required to transport Dreamliner components
around the world.”
Boeing will use three Large Cargo Freighters as the primary means of transporting major 787 assemblies to its Everett, Wash., final assembly site from partners around
the world.
“We thrive on the challenge of transporting unusual cargo,” said Brian Bauer, president of EIA. “Operating these amazing airplanes for Boeing is a unique opportunity
and we’re proud to play a role in the development of the 787.”
The 747s are being modified at Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp., in Taipei, Taiwan. Modification of the first airplane began last June and is progressing well. The
upper fuselage and interior structure have been completely removed to make way for the build-up of the airplane with its enlarged upper fuselage. This assembly began
earlier this month with the installation of an all-new pressure bulkhead. The second airplane was inducted for modification in October. First flight is scheduled for
mid-2006 followed by flight test and certification. The first LCFs will enter service in 2007 in support of Dreamliner production.
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